Ultimate New Home Checklist

We know moving into a new home can be a stressful time and we want to make it a little easier for you. We provided a pre-move, post-move, and room by room checklist to help you stay focused on what is necessary when packing up and moving to a new home.

Before the Move

Gather supplies to pack all your things: Boxes, bubble wrap, tape, labels and markers, and trash bags
Start packing 4-6 weeks before moving day to decrease stress
Research moving companies and request estimates
Enroll kids into new school
Deep clean your old house
Get your old house ready for the new buyers: Paint, repair damages and new landscaping
Use the list below to purchase items for your new home
Cancel utilities at the old house
Pack a suitcase or box that contains all necessities for the first couple of days after the move

Post-Move

Change the locks
Have internet and cable set up
Set up utilities (water, gas and electric)
Start unpacking: Boxes should all be labeled to the corresponding rooms in the house so it should make it easy to move all your belongings
Update address on all important documents
Forward mail to new address
Schedule a deep cleaning for the new house
Make sure there is a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink

Living Room

Entertainment center, sofa and armchair, coffee table, shelving, decor, end table, lighting, bookends

Bedroom

Bed frame and mattress, new pillows and sheets, nightstands, curtains and rods, dresser, storage bins, and hangers

Kitchen

Plates, eating and cooking utensils, steak knives, drinking glasses, wine glasses, drawer organizer, pots and pans, kitchen supplies (crockpot, blender, cutting board, containers)

Bathroom

Shower curtain and rod, under cabinet storage, bathmat, hand towels, toilet brush and plunger, trash can, and soap dispenser

Home Supplies & Tech

Toolbox, flashlight, measuring tape, batteries, hammer & nails, level, smart light bulbs, HDMI cords for the TV, smart thermostat

Different Style Coverings to Decorate Your New FHIA Windows

You’ve just had your FHIA impact windows installed and now what? Now, it is time to decorate your new windows and we are here to make the overwhelming choice simple. Check out the different styles and options that are available for your home!

Plantation Shutters – When making your choice between plantation shutters, there are a variety of finishes and features to choose from. There are multiple colors including white, cream and stained wood and numerous styles. Plantation shutters can increase property value and add curb appeal to your home.

Roller Shades – Roller shades are the most popular window covering right now. With a variety of swatches, styles, and the option to make them automatic, you can see why people are opting for this look. When choosing roller shades, you’ll have the choice for light filtering roller shades, black out shades, or a combination of both, to provide privacy but still let in light.
Natural Shades – These earthy shades are woven together and create a relaxing ambiance. They come in various materials including bamboo, reeds, jute, and grass. Natural shades can be rolled up during the day and lowered to provide privacy at night.
Traditional Blinds – Most homes come with the traditional blinds and are usually the cheapest option. Traditional blinds come in aluminum, vinyl, faux wood, and wood and there are multiple sizes, textures and colors.
Solar Shades – If energy efficiency was the #1 reason for switching your windows to impact windows, then solar shades are for you. Solar shades help your home by minimizing glare and blocking out the light. The darker the shade color, the more impact it has on blocking out heat. By blocking out light and heat, solar shades will prevent your furniture and carpets from fading.
Cellular Shades – These honeycomb-shaped air pocket shades are a great option for providing energy efficiency in your home. The shape of the blinds allows for an air pocket between the heat coming in through the window and your living room or bedroom. They aren’t the most fashionable shades, but between either the single or double cell blinds, they will control the heat and can decrease your electric bill.
Layered Shades – Layered shades gives you the best of both worlds! These shades are made up of alternating strips of opaque fabric to block out light and provide privacy and sheer to allow filtered light in. Layered shades provide a modern look and make a statement in your home.

Kitchen Trends to Look Out For Past 2021

The most popular home remodeling job of 2021 has been kitchen remodels. After spending most of 2020 inside the home, people are now ready to update the walls around them. A kitchen refacing or remodel can completely change the look of the home and increase property value. Here are the top kitchen trends that we will be seeing past 2021.

Pops of Color

A dark kitchen island can make a statement against white walls and white cabinets
Incorporate an accent color throughout kitchen in decorations and light fixtures
Paint the pantry door to create a focal point that draws guests in

Organic Elements

Natural stone and wood elements throughout kitchen will create a calming atmosphere and is very on trend in 2021
- Choose a natural stone as the backsplash to make the kitchen feel organic
- Incorporate reclaimed wood for:
  - Butcher block kitchen island
  - Open shelving for storage and decor
  - Antique pantry door
Bring the outdoors in with greenery and flowers on top of cabinets and on the countertops

Deep, Moody Colors

Paint the cabinets black to contrast white walls and white countertops
- If you choose to paint the cabinets black, open the space up with open shelving in certain areas of the kitchen
Opt for black hardware instead of brushed nickel or silver
If you love your white cabinets, use black tile as the backsplash or flooring

Texture Texture Texture

Marble or quartz countertops can make a home feel luxurious and add texture to the counters
Add white beadboard to the roof of the kitchen
Exposed brick walls or backsplash is an easy way to add texture and incorporate a farmhouse look in the kitchen
- If you don’t love the look of red brick, you can purchase limewash at your local hardware store

Mix & Match Metals

When choosing to mix metals it is important to stick to only 2-3 metals in one space
A fun way to mix metals is to hang copper pots above the kitchen island and contrast it with polished nickel hardware
A popular trend that has been around in recent years, and will continue to remain on trend, is to purchase stainless steel appliances and opt for brass hardware

2021 Most Popular Pendant Light to Match Your Style

If it’s not in the budget to have a complete kitchen remodel, start with the kitchen pendant light. Changing out the pendant light in the kitchen can elevate the look of your home and bring in your particular style at a relatively cheap cost.

When designing your kitchen, it is important to choose pieces that are functional for your lifestyle, and also elevate the look of the space. Being such a focal point in the kitchen, it is important to pick a pendant light that will stand out. The larger the space over the kitchen island, the bigger the lights should be. There are a variety of options to choose from and every unique look will let your style shine!

Check out samples of kitchen pendant lights that match your interior dreams!

1.Mid-century Modern

2.Farmhouse

3.Contemporary

4.Bohemianism

5.Scandinavian

6.Modern

7.Minimalistic

8.Traditional

10 Things to Prepare Your Home For The Summer Season

With summer right around the corner, it is time to prepare your home. Get ready for the summer season with these helpful ten tips.

1. Invest in Impact Windows from FHIA for Energy Efficiency

Less than one month away, hurricane season will begin on June 1^st. It is time to switch out your old windows and install new hurricane impact windows. Impact windows from FHIA will protect your home from hurricanes, while providing you the energy efficiency to cool down your home and decrease the electric bill for the hot season.

2. Clean Out the Gutters and Inspect the Roof

With the rainy season around the corner, it’s important to get your roof inspected and clean out your gutters. Roofs are the part of the house that are mostly impacted during a hurricane and you want to make sure you are prepared before the storms arrive.

3. Tidy Up the Flower Beds

Before the summer begins whip out those garden gloves, surround yourself with nature, and brighten up the outdoor space. New flowers and plants will make your home look ready for summer!

4. Get Your AC Serviced

With the hot weather already rolling in, you definitely don’t want to be left without air conditioning this summer! Be proactive and have your AC serviced to remove all of the leaves and build up from the last year and change out the air filters.

5. Put On Your Painting Pants

Spruce up the deck for all your summer backyard plans! Putting a fresh coat of paint on the patio can liven up the space and make it feel brand new!

6. Deep Clean the BBQ

Summer means BBQs and you can’t do that without your grill! Spend an afternoon scrubbing the BBQ and make sure that you are all stocked up on propane & charcoal for the grill.

7. Stock Up on Summer Essentials

Make sure you have all of the essentials including:

Aloe
Bug Spray
Sun block
Picnic blankets and beach towels
Backyard sports

Spending most of the days and nights outdoors, you want to be prepared with all of the summer essentials on hand.

8. Make Room for Watermelon and Popsicles

Now that the winter season has passed, it is time to deep clean the fridge and freezer. Throw out all of the leftovers and get ready to fill the fridge will all of the summer fruits and snacks.

9. Pick Out A Sturdy Front Door Mat

Pick out a sturdy front door mat to keep out the sand and dirt while showing off your style. After a day spent at the beach or going for morning walk, it’s important to clean off your shoes to not bring the outdoors inside. There are so many different styles and colors to choose from; so find what door mat matches your look!

10. Switch Out your Home Décor for a Fresh Summer Look

Summer season is full of bright colors and sunshine. Make your home feel the same! Incorporating a few summer pieces is a great way to show off your style while making your home feel ready for sunny days!

A few easy tricks to make your home feel ready for summer are:

Incorporate new colorful throw pillows on the couches to liven up the space
Stop by the local grocery store and pick up fresh flowers for the kitchen

Selling your Home? 4 Must Have Upgrades to Increase Value

Whether you’re relocating for work, moving further away from the city, or you’ve simply outgrown your current space, selling your home is no easy feat! Depending on your neighborhood stats and the current condition of your home, you could be in for quite the journey. Remodeling isn’t easy, or cheap, so here are four remodels you should make to get the most bang for your buck.

Bathroom Remodels

You don’t have to completely gut your bathroom to see a return on investment! Ditch the old tub, retile, and definitely get rid of old wallpaper. Pair that with some cosmetic updates and you’ll see an estimated 102% ROI.

With a more involved, major remodel – including optimizing the floor plan, adding storage, updating vanities and lighting, plus adding or repairing an exhaust fan – you’ll see an approximate 93.2% return.

Kitchen Remodel

Change outdated cabinets and countertops, put in an updated wall oven and cooktop, add resilient flooring, and change the fixtures for a new look without altering the floor plan. A minor kitchen remodel has a recoup rate of 98.5%.

If you’re going for a completely different look with a new, open floor plan, plenty of light, ample counter space with updated finishes, a kitchen island, and a stainless sink (plus new appliances), you’ll see a 91% return on investment.

Improve the Exterior

Potential buyers won’t see the inside unless the outside invites them in. Curb appeal is everything! Adding a durable coat of TexCote to the outside of your home to refresh and protect your home’s exterior.. Traditional vinyl siding has a recoup rate of 95.5%, but upscale, fiber-cement siding has an impressive 106.5% return!

Windows

Old windows make a house look dated and turn buyers off. New, energy-efficient windows can be a huge selling point! If you replace at least ten windows, you’ll see an 89.6% recoup rate.

While you won’t see a 100% return on some of these projects, they could help you sell your home faster. Buyers look for homes that are “move-in ready” and an outdated house signals a money pit. A home that’s been on the market for too long is also a bad sign for potential buyers. If you’re on a tight budget, do your research! Find out what houses in your neighborhood are on the market and what upgrades they’ve made to see if you can compete.

We want to help you get your home ready to sell! Contact us for a free quote on any of the above projects. You can also read about our promotions and financing details here.

Top Tips to Make Your Small Bathroom Look (and Feel) Larger

Do you dream of having an at-home oasis? It’s time to change the look of your small bathroom with these 5 simple tips and tricks that we found to maximize and grow your space.

1.Stick to Neutral Tones

When decorating a smaller space, it’s important to stick to light colors. Using neutral tones allows for the space to feel open and airy. Bring your style into the space by incorporating wallpaper or adding a pop of color with a vanity.

2.Install A Large Mirror Over the Vanity

Installing a large mirror over the bathroom vanity can create an illusion that your bathroom is double the size! A larger mirror will reflect more light in the space and if you don’t have a window in the bathroom, this addition can take its place. It’s possible to do this trick by yourself with the help of a couple of screws and can cost under $100.

3.Choose a Floating Vanity

Opting to change to a floating vanity is a great way to make the bathroom feel larger! Decreasing clutter on the floor and opening up space for your feet can make the entire room look greater in size. A floating vanity is a great way to maintain the storage that you have but will make the space look like you’re staying in a resort!

4.Raise Your Shower Curtain High

If you want to make your small bathroom feel grand, all you have to do is move the shower curtain a couple of inches higher! Moving the curtain up will trick the eye into thinking the room is bigger and creates a taller, more luxurious space. This simple trick won’t break the bank and will make a huge difference.

5.Less is More When It Comes to Decorations

Stick to functionality when decorating the bathroom. A fun carpet and decorations are a great way to incorporate your style in the space but can create clutter if your bathroom is on the smaller side. When choosing items to decorate the bathroom, think about what you will use on a day-to-day basis. A patterned rug and simple décor can keep the space free of clutter and elevate the look!

Why You Should Replace Your Doors Alongside Your Windows

Are you looking to upgrade your home’s windows or doors? Getting all-new replacement windows can significantly impact the look and feel of your home. A brand-new door installation can have the same effect. However, you may be wondering about one crucial question of scheduling: Is it worthwhile to get your windows and doors replaced at the same time? Or can it be cost-effective to space the construction out?

After looking at all of the possible reasons and rationales, it turns out that it is a good idea to pair a door replacement with an already-existing window replacement project. It’s a more efficient use of your window contractors’ time–and it offers a good opportunity to make sure your home is all updated at the same time.

Here are a few reasons why it’s a good idea to pair the two replacements:

If your windows are old…

Many of the signs that can tell you it’s a good time to replace your windows also are good reasons to replace your doors. For example, if you feel a draft in your home or you notice that one of your windows has deterioration along the frame, you wouldn’t want to go through all the hassle and expense of fixing only some of the windows and/or doors in your home, only to realize that the draft was still present–or that you still had other windows and doors that needed updates. Your windows and doors were likely all installed around the same time, so when one starts to leak or is in need of an update, there’s a good chance that the others will soon follow. If your windows and doors were all installed at different times, it might be a good idea to get them all updated at the same time anyway–it’ll add value to your home, and it’ll make updating them in the future a far simpler and easier task.

Save on labor

Because one of the more expensive parts of getting your windows and doors updated is paying for the time of your window contractors, it makes sense to ask them to do as much as possible while they’re already at your home.

Same benefits as new windows

If you’re replacing your windows and doors at the same time, you’ll enjoy a far more dramatic increase in the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. Because it can be gratifying to see a visible and measurable result for your investment, it can therefore make sense to pair your door installation with your window installation. Prioritizing the update of your windows and doors at the same time can also allow you to take advantage of technologies that work well together, giving you even more energy efficiency for your update.

No matter how you decide to manage your door and window upgrade, there’s no denying that it makes sense to invest in both at the same time. If you’re able to manage the up-front cost, it’s probable that you will save money over the long run! When you’re ready to start learning more about the window and door options available to you, look no further than the skilled window contractors and door specialists at FHIA. We’ll be able to help you pick products that will work flawlessly with your home.

What Are the Basic Window Ratings You Should Know?

When you are looking for windows for your home, how can you be sure that you are choosing the best option? By understanding these basic window rating measurements, you can make sure you are picking the best fit for your needs.

Window Rating Labels

The National Fenestration Rating Council, or NFRC, is a third-party non-profit organization that provides consumers with window, door, and skylight ratings. Windows that are certified by the NFRC have been independently tested and certified.

The four main ratings that are included on every NFRC-certified window label are U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, Visible Transmittance, and Air Leakage. Some window manufacturers may also include the optional Condensation Resistance rating on their labels.

ENERGY STAR qualifying windows have NFRC ratings that have met strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy. ENERGY STAR considers regional location when certifying windows because differences in climate affect what ratings are necessary to be energy efficient.

U-Factor

U-Factor is a measure of how well a window can keep heat from escaping.

The range for U-Factor is between 0.20 and 1.20
The lower the U-Factor value, the less heat a window allows to escape.

Look for windows with a lower U-Factor to have a greater resistance to heat flow and better insulating value.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) value measures how well a window resists unwanted heat gain from the sun.

The range for SHGC is between 0 and 1.
The lower the SHGC value, the better a window’s resistance is to heat gain from the sun.

Look for windows with lower SHGC values to reduce your cooling bill in the hot summer months.

Visible Transmittance (VT)

Visible Transmittance (VT) is the measurement of how well daylight is able to get through a window. This rating is especially important to consider if you want high levels of natural light to come into a room. If you are looking to save money on artificial lighting, pay attention to this rating.

The range for VT is between 0 and 1.
The higher the VT value, the more natural light a window lets in.

Look for windows with high VT values if you want to maximize the amount of natural light that comes into your home.

Air Leakage

Air Leakage measures how much air will enter a room through a window. This measurement represents the number of cubic feet of air passing through a square foot of window area per minute (cfm/sq. ft.).

The lower the Air Leakage value, the less air is able to enter a room through a window.
This value is assuming proper installation. Faulty installation could lead to damaged seals that could allow in more air. This is why you should always hire a trusted contractor to expertly install your new windows!

Condensation Resistance

Condensation Resistance measurements are optional for manufacturers to include on NFRC labels. Condensation Resistance measures how susceptible to condensation buildup a window is. Condensation could lead to mold, discoloration, and warped wood. If it occurs between the layers of glass, condensation cannot be cleaned off and could block your view.

The range for Condensation Resistance is between 1 to 100.
The higher the value, the more resistant to condensation a window is.
Most ENERGY STAR qualifying windows have high Condensation Resistance ratings.

Now you know how to understand the basic window ratings that are included on NFRC window labels! Are you thinking about replacing the windows in your home? We can help guide you through the window replacement process! Start by requesting a free quote online today.